How a teacher greets students, takes care of logistics, and begins his or her lessons is CRUCIAL! During this observation, focus on how class begins. Where is your CT before class begins? What is he or she doing? Using the clock on the wall, determine when your CT establishes order and begins class. How did she/he start their lesson? How is homework from the previous night reviewed/collected/assessed? How does your CT engage students during the opening of the lesson? Is the approach your CT used during this lesson consistent with what we have discussed in class during our collaborative lesson planning sessions?
Gina Haberlin (Curtis Corner Middle School)
I haven't gotten much time in the Middle school classroom due to testing however I have gotten some observations. Ms. Haberlin is in her classroom waiting for her students at her desk when they arrive. When the students come into the classroom it is a little bit hectic getting the students to settle down. She doesn't take much time (about 5 min) to get everyone quiet. She starts class by having them take out their binders. The kids did not have homework do the night before but they take out their worksheets that they had been working on the previous class. She goes over the worksheets asking them questions about information learned before going onto the current days lesson or activity. Students raise their hands to answer questions asked. Most of the same students answer the questions and I think that calling on them or making it more interactive would help with class discussions.
Julie Malone (Westerly High School)
Ms. Malone is at her desk waiting for students to arrive. Depending on the class the students either hand in their homework as soon as they get into the classroom into a special box. Or Mrs. Malone goes around and individually checks it off. If she checks it at the students she then goes over it in class. Class usually gets to order fairly quick a couple of minutes into the lesson. To begin the lesson Ms. Malone talks about what they have been talking about in the past. She then links that previous talk to the activity for that day or the notes lesson they are going to preform. She actively engages the students by calling on them individually to keep the class moving. Calling on students seems to be effective to help students pay attention and engaged in the lesson
Gina Haberlin (Curtis Corner Middle School)
I haven't gotten much time in the Middle school classroom due to testing however I have gotten some observations. Ms. Haberlin is in her classroom waiting for her students at her desk when they arrive. When the students come into the classroom it is a little bit hectic getting the students to settle down. She doesn't take much time (about 5 min) to get everyone quiet. She starts class by having them take out their binders. The kids did not have homework do the night before but they take out their worksheets that they had been working on the previous class. She goes over the worksheets asking them questions about information learned before going onto the current days lesson or activity. Students raise their hands to answer questions asked. Most of the same students answer the questions and I think that calling on them or making it more interactive would help with class discussions.
Julie Malone (Westerly High School)
Ms. Malone is at her desk waiting for students to arrive. Depending on the class the students either hand in their homework as soon as they get into the classroom into a special box. Or Mrs. Malone goes around and individually checks it off. If she checks it at the students she then goes over it in class. Class usually gets to order fairly quick a couple of minutes into the lesson. To begin the lesson Ms. Malone talks about what they have been talking about in the past. She then links that previous talk to the activity for that day or the notes lesson they are going to preform. She actively engages the students by calling on them individually to keep the class moving. Calling on students seems to be effective to help students pay attention and engaged in the lesson